Assault Chapter Part 5
The door slowly opened and I turned to see Miku standing there. She motioned for me to come out into the hallway. Carefully I set Len's hand back down and flinched seeing the blood I left there. Hopefully I would have time to clean it off before Len woke up.
"How's Iroha?" I asked, shutting the door behind me.
"Well... she's upset," Miku said.
That was definitely an understatement.
"Should we wake up Len and go back now?" I said. Miku bit her lip and stared at the floor, looking very conflicted.
"I think we should wait," she answered without looking at me, "That place is going to be swarming with soldiers by now. We'll get killed if we just charge in there."
"You're completely right. That's the only way we can help Iroha's friends," I assured her, putting my hand on her shoulder. Miku met my eyes and smiled.
"I'm going to go scout it out and get as much information as I can. I'll come back when it's time," Miku said as she turned to go.
"Wait! Shouldn't I go with you?" I asked, grabbing her arm.
"No, you need to stay here," she said while poking me in the chest, "Len has no idea what's going on and you've got to watch both of them. Hold down the fort for me, okay?"
"Fine, fine, I'll stay," I gave in. Miku just smiled at me and disappeared around a corner. I stood there for a moment, wondering what I should do until Miku came back. The blood on my hands answered that question for me. It took me a while, but I eventually found a bathroom. The cool water felt good on my hands and it felt even better to see the red stain wash off. I took several paper towels, soaked them down, and walked back to Len.
He was still sleeping when I came in and his eyes stayed shut as I wiped the blood off of his fingers. I threw the paper towels away and sat against the wall, staring at Len. I tried not to think about anything, especially not those beautiful memories of Len and I before I died. It was hard not to smile at them though...
"Rin...?"
My eyes blinked open, I hadn't realized that I'd fallen asleep. Len looked down at me, still half asleep himself.
"What time is it?" I asked while Len checked his watch.
"Um... two-ish? Yeah, two p.m.," Len said, rubbing his eyes.
"What!?" I yelled, jumping to my feet. It couldn't be that late already!
"What? What is it?" Len asked knocking over the chair as he tried to get up and see what was wrong.
"Miku! She's not back yet! It's been way too long, what if she got shot?" I panicked and made for the door. Len jumped in front of me and blocked the door.
"Wait! What's going on?"
I quickly told him what Miku and I did and about Iroha. My eyes kept drifting towards the door but Len's gaze kept me telling the story. I couldn't meet his eyes when I told him about the men I killed, but his face didn't change.
"That's why we've got to check on Miku! She could be hurt or killed or-" I pleaded with him just as the door opened to reveal Miku, looking dirty but intact.
"I came back an hour or two ago but I saw you guys were sleeping so I didn't bother you!" laughed Miku. I gaped at her.
"You idiot! I thought you were dead!" I said, shaking her by the shoulders, but she just smiled and laughed, "So what did you find out?"
"They're patrolling that area because of the dead soldiers. It'll be a bit difficult, but I think we can pull it off today," said Miku brightly. Her cheerfulness aggravated me and I still wanted to yell at her.
"Why can't we do it another day when there aren't as many people paying attention?" Len asked.
"Well, it'd be safer but one of Iroha's friends is very sick and they don't have any food or water left. And it's only a matter of time before the soldiers start searching the buildings nearby. We know what'll happen if they find those people hiding out there," Miku said, serious now. Len and I both nodded.
"So what'll we do?" Len asked.
"We should go at dusk so we have some cover. I'm going to tell Iroha," said Miku. She walked out and winked at me as she closed the door, leaving Len and I alone. She could be infuriating sometimes.
"Good thing I finished the guns," said Len as he started to pick up one of them before setting it back down. I could tell he was thinking all of this over, his mouth pulled down into a frown. My hand reached out and touched his face. A slow smile spread over his face as he put his hand over mine.
"Don't worry, I'll be right here by your side," I told him.
"I know you will be."
Then he reached over and kissed me quietly.
It was good to see him smiling.
In the next few hours we prepared for the assault. Iroha watched us sullenly as we got ready for the extra people coming. She stayed away from Len and I but she was all right with Miku. I could tell that Iroha was terrified of me. It was because I killed all of those men in front of her. She probably thought I was a monster or something.
"All right. I think we're ready!" Miku said, putting her black and blue gun into her holster. I had two hand guns in my favorite black and yellow style.
"Do you even know how to use that?" I asked Len, pointing at the rifle slung across his back.
"Of course. You'll see," he laughed with me.
"T-thank you," Iroha said quietly. I hadn't even realized she had been hiding behind Miku.
"Don't worry. We'll come back with them," Miku smiled at her. Iroha nodded and watched us walk out the door. I waved goodbye to her as the door closed behind me. We stayed in the shadows and let Miku lead us toward the apartment building. She slowed us down and pulled us into an alley just in time to see two soldiers go by.
"They're this far out?" I whispered, pulling my gun out.
"What should we do? Take them out as we go?" Len asked. We both looked to Miku.
"No, we need to sneak in. If we start firing shots we'll bring all of them down on us. Then they'll know something's up and we might get trapped," Miku said matter-of-factly.
"Right, Captain Miku!" I said with a salute. Len snickered and Miku smiled while shushing us.
I took the lead now, paying attention to my sensors to make sure we didn't run into anyone. We skirted along the rubble and soon enough we came as close as we could to the place where we found Iroha. The soldiers were still checking out the area. I grinned at their confusion. I guess they weren't expecting anyone to resist anymore. Thankfully the building Iroha had pointed out to us didn't have anyone near it.
"Can you tell if there's anyone in there?" whispered Miku.
"Yes, there's definitely only two people in there," I whispered back. Miku and Len nodded, determination on their faces.
We took a roundabout way to make sure we weren't seen and moved in on the back of the apartment building. I went first and tested the door. It was unlocked. Apprehensively, I opened the door but I immediately saw why it didn't need to be locked. Somehow the staircase to the second floor was completely demolished.
"I know it looks like it's going to fall apart at any time, but Iroha said it's sturdy," Miku said quietly, checking out the staircase.
"But how are we getting up there?" I asked, putting my gun back into the holster.
"You are going up," Miku smirked, pointing at me.
"What? Am I supposed to jump or something?" I spat at Miku. Len answered for her.
"You can, you know. You'd be able to jump right up there."
It was weird forgetting that I was a robot.
"Oh, right."
I stationed myself by the stairs and looked nervously at Len and Miku. Len just smiled and Miku waved me on. Steeling myself, I jumped, caught part of the railing and swung onto the landing.
"Okay now pull us up," Miku said, thrusting out a hand to me. I grabbed it and pulled her up until she could safely climb the rest of the way. Len reached up and I easily lifted him as well.
"How did Iroha get down from here?" I asked, looking down at the drop.
"She said something about a ladder, but-" Miku started before I interrupted her.
"Wait! There's someone coming!"
We all spun around in time to see a tall man wielding a pipe.
"Who're you and what are you doing here!?" he yelled, ready to strike. But... I knew that voice.
"Kaito?" I asked incredulously. He hesitated, then looked closer at us.
"Rin? ...Len?" and then all three of us were being tightly hugged by Kaito, his blue hair brushing against my face.
"I'm so gald you... that you guys survived!" Kaito said, crying happily.
"And how do you know him?" Miku asked curiously.
"He's Meiko's boyfriend!" answered Len excitedly as Kaito finally stopped hugging us.
"And who's Meiko?" Miku prodded me, determined to get answers.
"Meiko is my older sister," I smiled before turning to Kaito, "She is with you, right?" My eyes pleading that I was right.
"Yes, but she's... she isn't doing well. Come on, I'll show you," said Kaito, the smile disappearing from his face. He stood up like there was a heavy weight on his shoulders and started down the hallway. Hesitantly, Miku, Len and I followed him, wondering what we'd find once we got there.